Indiana Association of United Ways Logo 
Policy Update, October 31, 2014 
Thank you for your interest and support. The Indiana Association of United Ways provides its Policy Update on "odd Fridays" (1st, 3rd and 5th Fridays). Contact us if you have any questions or comments about content (past, present or desired for the future).
At the Statehouse - Take Action
Pledge to VOTE on Tuesday
What are we hearing about the election on Tuesday in Indiana? Not much. Which have you heard most often? Excitement? Sense of Obligation? Cynicism? Apathy?

If you care about families, you should vote. If you care about what is included in our state and federal budgets, you should vote. 

Pledge to vote on Tuesday. I #pledgetovote on #ElectionDay. #liveunited.


 

Review your ballot and research the candidates before you vote. Download our Election Year Reminders or visit Nonprofit Vote for more tips.


At the StatehouseLegislative Study Committees 
StateCapitolDay The Legislative Council has appointed the interim study committees. Current meetings scheduled on the calendar include:

As the Interim Session comes to an end, final reports are being submitted.  View the following final reports that have been posted:  

  • Education Committee:  Committee recommendations include finding alternatives to expulsion and suspension for all students, focusing on eliminating disparities for minorities and other disadvantaged groups, and looking at additional reporting standards for discipline data.  The committee also recognized that Early Learning Advisory Council and the Family Social Services Administration are adequately preparing to implement the early learning pilot program.
  • Public Health, Behavioral Health and Human Services:  The committee made recommendations on state employee health plans.  The committee did not take action on implementing a high-cost health management program for Medicaid recipients.
  • Employment and Labor:  The committee found that money for the implementation of work-share programs from federal sources has expired, as well as any reimbursement dollars for wages.  They also found that policy changes that impact the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund could jeopardize the federal waiver balance and could cost employers more in Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA) tax payments.  
  • Corrections and Criminal Code The committee recommended that the General Assembly address the range of ages in the juvenile waiver statute and that funding be made available for the mandatory appointment of counsel in juvenile cases.  They also recommend funding and other incentives to ensure access and use of treatment for opioid and alcohol dependent offenders who are reentering society.  They would also like for Department of Correction (DOC) to provide data on the how they process and assess inmates with autism, how many with an autism spectrum disorder are currently at DOC, and the transition/reentry process for these individuals.  The committee also encouraged legislation for a statewide registry for individuals with developmental disabilities to which first responders would have access.

If you missed a committee meeting, visit the specific interim committee's web page for agenda and documents presented.

Charitable Sector Priority Area
Big donors giving less. Lower income donors giving more.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy analyzed IRS data for the period 2006 to 2012 as a part of its How America Gives series. Findings include:
  • Americans, on average, give about 3% of their income to charity. 
  • The wealthiest Americans reduced their giving (as a percentage of their total household income) from 2006 to 2012.
  • Middle- and lower-income Americans increased their charitable giving, even though they earned less, on average, in 2012 than in 2006.
  • Even though wealthier residents gave a smaller percentage of their income, they collectively gave more in adjusted dollars. High-wealth donors continue to be a target for fundraisers.

How does your county give? Check out the interactive tool linked below.

Education Priority Area
Kindergarten Countdown 2014 Report available
Indiana's United Ways and Funds have school readiness as a top priority for their community. Because so many of Indiana's children arrive to kindergarten under-prepared, we have worked with partners to expand Kindergarten Countdown / Readiness Camps throughout the state. 

The model is a 4-week intensive summer program targeting incoming students who have had no formal child care or preschool. These are often the children who come in the first day not knowing their colors or letters and not knowing how to recognize their own name in print, stand in line or hold a pencil or crayon. 

Because of high interest and high need, the camps expanded to serve over 1,000 children in 21 counties this year. Pre- and post-tests showed a 20% average increase in pre-literacy skills. Read the full 2014 KCD Report and celebrate the impact on children, parents, teachers and communities.
Education Priority Area
More reactions to the preschool application decision 
Group of children hop up and down.
We previously shared how early education advocates around the state were both surprised and disappointed that Governor Pence decided not to submit the application for the federal preschool development grant, which volunteers and staff around the state spent countless hours preparing.

Opinion pages in newspapers around the state have been filled with comments both in support and in opposition to the decision. Critics call on the Governor to provide specific objections. See guest columns by Governor Pence and Superintendent Ritz, which were not carried by all newspapers. See reactions by editorial boards at the Indianapolis Star, Journal Gazette and South Bend Tribune.

Indiana's United Ways will continue to work with the Early Learning Advisory Council, state agencies and community partners to implement the pre-K pilot and to advance early education. 
advocate
IaUW Public Policy
  
IaUW is a nonpartisan organization that works to advance policy principles and compromise solutions for the common good. We focus on programs and policies that help:
  • children prepare for and succeed in school;
  • individuals achieve and sustain financial stability;
  • individuals access quality healthcare; and
  • communities thrive, including a strong 2-1-1 network and charitable sector.
Our policy priorities are developed and guided by our Public Policy Committee and our IaUW members, based on their work in Hoosier communities.
Frequently Requested Links / Documents
  
iauw.org - Learn about the Indiana Association of United Ways, current trainings and conferences and the ways we support local United Ways/Funds, partners and communities.

IaUW Policy / Advocacy info - Review and download IaUW Policy Priorities, Third House calendar, bill lists, fact sheets, talking points and testimony.
  
Advocacy Action Center - Contact your member of Congress or State Legislator, provided through our partnership with United Way Worldwide.

IaUW Policy Update Archive - Read prior issues, special articles and key documents produced by IaUW related to public policy and advocacy.

NEW - Community Report Card - Check out key indicators in Education, Income and Health for your neighborhood, county or region.

IN211.org - Search for human service information available through the referral database or by calling 2-1-1. Download reports about resources, needs, gaps and trends from Indiana 211 Partnership.
  
NRN Calendar - Register for high-quality and affordable training for nonprofit staff and volunteers by the Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network.

Funding and Other Opportunities Explore current requests for proposals, funding and recognition opportunities.

Indiana General Assembly
 - Check the hearing or floor schedule, watch a live or recorded hearing or floor session and look up your legislators. 

Library of Congress
 - Look up bills introduced in Congress. Note that the THOMAS site will be maintained through 2014 and fully replaced by Congress.gov.

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